(1/2)An Australian Aboriginal flag sticker along with the word ‘RESPECT’ on a structure at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a protest site since 1972, in Canberra, Australia, May 4, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/Photo archive
SYDNEY, June 23 (Reuters) – Australian Senate passed legislation earlier this week paving the way for a historic referendum later this year on whether to recognize indigenous peoples in the constitution.
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, who make up around 3.2% of Australia’s nearly 26 million people, are not mentioned in the constitution.
Here are five things to know about the referendum:
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed adding an additional chapter to the constitution. The new chapter will say the following:
In recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia:
- There will be one body, to be called the Voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander;
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice can address Parliament and the Commonwealth Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- Parliament shall have, subject to this Constitution, the power to make laws in respect of matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
WHAT IS THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM QUESTION?
Albanese said last week that the referendum question would be: “A proposed law: amending the Constitution to recognize the First Peoples of Australia through the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve of this proposed amendment?”
HOW DOES THE REFERENDUM WORK?
The bill outlining the proposed changes cleared its final parliamentary hurdle earlier this week.
Now it will be sent to the governor general, the representative of the head of state, King Carlos, who issues an appeal for a referendum.
The government will then announce a date for the referendum, which is expected to be between October and December.
HOW MANY VOTES ARE NEEDED?
To change the constitution, the government must secure what is known as a double majority in the referendum.
That means more than 50% of voters must vote in favor nationally, plus a majority of voters in most states must support the change.
Votes of people living in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Northern Territory regions and any of Australia’s external territories count towards the national majority only.
Participation in the polls will be high since voting is mandatory.
HOW HAVE PREVIOUS REFERENDUMS GOED?
There have been 44 constitutional change proposals in 19 referendums, and only eight of these proposals have been approved.
In the last referendum in 1999, Australians voted against changing the constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with the monarchy and the governor-general replaced by a president appointed by a two-thirds majority of members of parliament.
Reporting by Praveen Menon in Sydney; Edited by Alasdair Pal, Lincoln Feast, and Stephen Coates
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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